international humanitarian law – Page 4 – International Justice Resource Center

Burundi: International and Regional Bodies Urge Dialogue, Fear Mass Violence

November 17, 2015 IJRC African System, armed conflict, civil society, democracy & political rights, extrajudicial executions, human rights defenders, international criminal law, international human rights, international humanitarian law, military and humanitarian intervention, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, torture, UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council

Amid an ongoing human rights and political crisis in which hundreds have lost their lives, civil society and human rights bodies are calling on Burundian authorities to avoid inciting violence, put a stop to attacks against advocates and journalists, and cooperate with monitoring efforts. On November 12, 2015, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution condemning the

On 29 September 2015, the trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido opened before Trial Chamber VII at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido are accused of offences against the administration of justice in connection with witnesses' testimonies in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo. Credit: ICC

ICC Initiates Witness Tampering Prosecution of Jean-Pierre Bemba & Others

October 20, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, due process & judicial protection, International Criminal Court, international humanitarian law

On September 29, 2015 the International Criminal Court (ICC) commenced its first trial concerning allegations of witness tampering, in the case of The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo et al. [ICC Press Release: Prosecutor’s Statement; The Guardian] Jean-Pierre Bemba Gomba, former Vice President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and four other defendants are charged with offenses to the

International Criminal Court Considers Investigation of 2008 South Ossetia Conflict

October 14, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, International Criminal Court, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, military and humanitarian intervention

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested authorization to investigate possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 2008 conflict in South Ossetia, a step that could lead to the eventual prosecution of individuals suspected of responsibility for directing or carrying out these crimes. [ICC Press Release: Prosecutor Requests] The Prosecutor has received information that

UN Report Highlights Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka and Urges Creation of Hybrid Court

September 22, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, Asia, children, civil society, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, economic, social & cultural rights, family, human rights defenders, international criminal law, international human rights, international humanitarian law, internationalized criminal tribunals, judicial independence, liberty & security of person, military and humanitarian intervention, persons with disabilities, privacy, property, reparations, right to life, security & rule of law, thought, expression & association, transitional justice, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, women's rights

On September 16, 2015, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, released a report on the human rights violations, including unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, and gender-based violence, committed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan government forces from 2002-2011. See Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Report of the OHCHR

Committee on the Rights of the Child Reviews 9 States’ Reports

September 17, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, Asia, children, civil society, crime & impunity, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, economic, social & cultural rights, family, human rights defenders, immigration & asylum, indigenous communities, international human rights, international humanitarian law, labor rights, LGBTI rights, liberty & security of person, persons with disabilities, UN treaty bodies, women's rights

On September 14, 2015 the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) commenced its 70th session in Geneva, Switzerland. During this session, which will end on October 2, the Committee will review the reports of Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Kazakhstan, Poland, Timor-Leste, and the United Arab Emirates concerning the States’ implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

Committee on Enforced Disappearances Reviews Iraq and Montenegro

September 15, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, children, civil society, crime & impunity, democracy & political rights, discrimination, enforced disappearance, family, freedom of religion, ICTY, immigration & asylum, International Criminal Court, international human rights, international humanitarian law, liberty & security of person, persons with disabilities, privacy, reparations, right to life, transitional justice, UN treaty bodies

The United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) is currently holding its 9th session in Geneva, Switzerland from September 7th to 18th. The CED is reviewing State reports of Iraq and Montenegro regarding their implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Convention). During the session, the CED and each State engage in dialogue

Migration Crisis: Recent Developments, Human Rights Standards, and European Court Decision

September 4, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, children, civil society, conditions of detention, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, economic, social & cultural rights, European System, family, immigration & asylum, international human rights, international humanitarian law, liberty & security of person, torture, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies

Political upheaval and human rights violations in parts of Africa and the Middle East, particularly in Eritrea, Kosovo, and Syria, are increasing migration flows to Europe at an unprecedented rate. While the European Union (EU) received approximately 626,000 applications for asylum in 2014, Germany alone is expected to receive 800,000 applications this year. [Financial Times: Germany] Europe has not yet

IJRC Newsletter: August 2015

August 28, 2015 IJRC African System, European System, IJRC Newsletter, IJRC Updates, Inter-American System, international criminal law, international human rights, international humanitarian law, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, Universal Periodic Review, Universal system

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Developing Right to Life General Comment

August 27, 2015 IJRC African System, armed conflict, civil society, conditions of detention, crime & impunity, death penalty, democracy & political rights, economic, social & cultural rights, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial executions, international human rights, international humanitarian law, judicial independence, liberty & security of person, reparations, right to life

In June 2015, the Working Group on Death Penalty and Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings (Working Group) of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) met in Kigali, Rwanda to develop a General Comment on Article 4 (right to life) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, also known as the Banjul Charter (Charter). This meeting

Kosovo to Create Special War Crimes Court but Faces Challenges

August 25, 2015 IJRC armed conflict, democracy & political rights, discrimination, due process & judicial protection, ICTY, International Criminal Court, international human rights, international humanitarian law, internationalized criminal tribunals, military and humanitarian intervention, right to life, security & rule of law, transitional justice

On August 3, 2015 the Kosovo Parliament passed the “Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office,” a constitutional amendment that will establish a special war crimes court to prosecute former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrillas for crimes committed during and after the Kosovo War between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2000. The court will operate under Kosovo law